allen



A. J. BENTLEY & W. H. ALLEN.

SHIPS BLOCK.

No. 23,894. PatentedMay 10,1859.

U TED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

A. J. BENTLEY AND W. H. ALLEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

smrs STOP-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,894, dated May 10, 1859'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, A. J. BENTLEY and W. H. ALLEN, both of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ships Blocks; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, of which Figure 1, represents a perspective view of the block with the rope passed through it. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the same, showing the interior arrangement and the parts in two positions. Fig. 3, is a cross section taken through the red line m, m, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a cross section through the opposite end of the block.

The nature of our invention consists in constructing a block with two tapering sides, and of a suitable width, and placing within the same two wedges having grooves on their inner surface, which grooves are made to clasp the rope, passing longitudinally through the block and'between the grooves, and hold it firmly, by means of friction rollers, so situated within said block that when the wedges are relieved by a cord connected to the same, two helical springs will respectively force the wedges up tight against the rope and rollers, and any further attempt to draw the rope through the block will cause the wedges to bind the same tighter; and by this arrangement we produce what we denominate a stop block, described, represented and specified as follows:

The block A, may be made of metal or any suitable material possessing the necessary degree of strength to withstand the strain put upon it. This block is made tapering, as represented by the drawings, and is provided with projecting portions B, B, for lashing it to any convenient rigid place according to the oflice it is to perform. Within this block are arranged a number of friction rollers C, C, which are placed on either side of the block and fit in suitable recesses in the sides of the same; these rollers are separated by partitions a, a, in order to prevent them from coming in contact with each other, and these respectively press against the inner sides of the block and against the inclined surfaces of two wedges D, D, between which passes the rope E. The wedges D, D, have grooves on their inner edges which encompass the rope E, these running parallel with the rope and made tolpress equally against the surface of the rope throughout their length. This parallel motion is preserved by lugs b, b, which move in suitable guides in the sides of the block.

Two rods or wires F, F, are fixed to the larger ends of the wedges D, D, and pass through the foot of the block, to which are connected cords 0, 0.

G, G, are two helical springs which press respectively against the ends of the wedges and the foot of the block A. The rope is passed through the block between the wedges D, D, as described; and the springs exerting a pressure upon the wedges keep them pressed against the rope and thus prevent it from slipping through. the block, and when the springs are free to act, the greater the strain put upon the rope to draw it through the block, in the direction of the arrow, the greater will be the tendency of the wedges to prevent it, while at the same time the rope can be drawn through in the opposite directionwithout any hindrance on the part of the block, thus forming a perfect stop block.

When it is necessary that the rope should be drawn through in either direction the wedges are drawn back by the cords c, 0, and in this position the rope is free to move either way.

The importance of this block is too ob vious to require any explanation. It may be advantageously applied to various kinds of running rigging, about a ship, for hoisting, such as braces, halyards etc., and may be also applied to pulleys for raising weights on land; in either of these instances the rope is held taut during the intervals of hauling and dispenses with the use of one or more hands to take up the slack, as the rope is drawn through the pulleys, as is requisite under the present arrangement.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The within described arrangement of rollers and wedges, when operating in the manner and for the purpose herein substantially set forth.

A. J. BENTLEY. WVM. H. ALLEN. Witnesses:

W. Tosorr, R. S. SPENCER. 

